As far as opening statements go, Everton’s new majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri has delivered an emphatic one in acquiring Ronald Koeman as manager from Southampton on a three-year deal. Moshiri’s March unveiling generated a mix of excitement and scepticism as almost two decades of boardroom missteps and failure to advance beyond occasional European football and mere top-flight existence had supporters fearing the status quo might never alter. Promising additional funds for transfers and the retention of key players, the Iranian-born billionaire spoke of energising the club, stating a desire to give Everton “whatever I have.” Words would not be enough…
Author: David Folami
You know it’s officially silly season when a player’s sister’s LinkedIn activity is cited as evidence that said player might be on the move. But such is the frenzy around the transfer market, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan is a popular name on the merry-go-round at the moment: the Borussia Dortmund man has been linked to both Manchester United and Arsenal. It can be hard to wade through the tide of supposition and innuendo at this time of year, so it was pleasingly surprising when Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger made his feelings about another reported Arsenal target, N’Golo Kante, very clear indeed…
Germany will continue to use Bastian Schweinsteiger in his role as a substitute in their second group match against Poland on Thursday, according to head coach Joachim Low. “He does not have the strength to play 90 minutes,” Low said at his prematch news conference on Wednesday, although goalkeeper Manuel Neuer believes the Germany captain can play a full match match in a certain role Schweinsteiger, 31, made an impressive return from injury on Sunday, when it took the Manchester United midfielder only minutes to score in his first competitive match since a 21-minute appearance in the Red Devil’s 1-0…
Corinthians president Roberto de Andrade has announced Tite has agreed to succeed Dunga as Brazil national team manager, but the Brazilian federation says no accord has been struck with any coach. Dunga and national team coordinator Gilmar Rinaldi were relieved of their duties on Tuesday in the wake of a disappointing Copa America Centenario campaign. Brazil crashed out at the group stage after a controversial 1-0 loss to Peru in their final match. The 55-year-old Tite, who Andrade says will not coach Brazil’s Olympics squad this summer, led Corinthians to two Brazilian league titles, a Copa Libertadores and a Club…
England have been warned of the difficulty of dealing with Wales star Gareth Bale in Thursday’s Euro 2016 clash by Carlo Ancelotti and Vincent Kompany, while manager Roy Hodgson has insisted that his players have prepared for the Group B encounter as they would for any other game. Bale, 26, scored the opening goal in Wales’ 2-1 win over Slovakia in their opening win of the tournament, and the Real Madrid forward’s comments about Welsh pride in the build-up to the game have been the focus of much of the media attention. “I’ll put a stop to all discussions and…
Didier Deschamps hailed the impact of substitutes Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann after France’s last-gasp 2-0 victory over Albania. France looked anything but Euro 2016 favourites as they laboured against a side ranked 42nd in the world, and were very nearly on the end of a major upset with Albania rattling a post. But just as Albania looked set to register their first-ever point at an international tournament, Griezmann finally broke their resistance with less than a minute to go. Pogba was dropped from the starting lineup but introduced at half-time and sparked a vastly improved display following a limp…
Wife of the president, Aisha Buhari on Tuesday, June 14, 2016 donated food items to members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. A chieftain of the party, Nasiru Dano, who represented Mrs Buhari at the event stated that the move was part of her nationwide distribution of food items. Dano who did not say the total amount of items donated however stated that “the items are in their hundreds and it is expected to be shared among party members in the FCT.” The party’s national chairman, John Oyegun who took delivery of the items…
The All Progressives Congress on Monday, June 14, 2016, has reacted to the allegations made by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the APC and the Presidency are behind the Ali Modu Sherrif-led PDP faction. In a statement signed by the APC national secretary, Mai Mala Buni and made available to us, the ruling party described PDP’s allegations as baseless and laughable adding that the opposition is currently “suffering from its sins of the past.” The statement reads in full: “The National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in reacting to the baseless and laughable allegations of a faction…
The Presidency has said that state governments will not be required to fund the Federal Government’s School Feeding programme. The clarification comes after Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose accused the FG of fraud for supposedly requiring states to contribute 40 per cent of the funds needed for the programme. The Presidency’s comments were contained in a statement released by the Senior Special Assistant to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, on Tuesday, June 14, 2016. The statement reads: We want the states to embrace this programme, it is good for the people, it’s a win-win for…
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide has slammed the minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi over his comments on the establishment of the Maritime University in Okerenkoko, Delta state. The group also said the minister’s comments, showed that he was opposed to the establishment of the tertiary institution in the Niger-Delta. Amaechi in a Town Hall meeting organised for the people of the South-South region in Akwa-Ibom state, said the cost of the land (N13b) was outrageous, so the Federal Government could not continue with the project. The minister of state for petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu on the other hand, disagreed with…
A lawyer, Kabir Akingbolu has sued Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state at the Federal High Court in Lagos state, for joining the ongoing workers’ strike in the state. Akingbolu said Fayose’s action amounts to abdication of his duties as Governor. The Ekiti state Governor in June 2016, joined the civil servants’ strike after efforts to make them return to work proved abortive. Fayose also explained that he decided to join the workers to express his concern for their plight. Premium Times reports that Akingbolu said “Considering the provision of Section 176 subsection 1 and 2 of the Constitution whether…
A former minister of transport and aviation, Chief Ebenezer Babatope has warned Governor Rauf Aregbesola not to cause a religious war in Osun state. Babatope also told the Governor to focus his attention on alleviating the plight of the suffering masses of Osun state. He said this following the tension brewing in the state between the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Governor Aregbesola. The former minister also added that a lot of havoc has been caused in Nigeria by politicians who use religion to serve their personal purposes. Babatope said “Let him have very good dialogue with the Christians…
Nigeria’s government will loan its states a total of 90 billion naira ($453 million), in its latest effort to augment their monthly income and ease strain caused by plunging oil revenues, the country’s finance minister said. The funds will help tide the 36 states over for a year as they get their finances in order, Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun said late on Tuesday. The loan is structured as 50 billion naira for three months and then 40 billion for nine months. She did not say what the interest rate on the loans would be. “It is a loan and it…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff to appear at its office for questioning. Sheriff is reportedly being invited to answer questions on funds spent by the PDP during its 2015 presidential campaign, The Cable reports. “Yes it is true, the EFCC in Borno state has invited Ali Modu Sheriff,” an EFCC source said. Former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode and other officials of the Goodluck Jonathan administration have been interrogated by the EFCC for the same reason. Meanwhile, the EFCC has raided the Lagos homes of former minister of…
Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola has said that he wants to see sustainable, reliable electricity in Nigeria before he dies. Fashola also said that Nigeria is a country of promise despite its many challenges. “I’m a thinking person and I’m always looking for solutions to solutions. When I’ve found one solution, I’m not always convinced that it’s the best solution, so even when I’m implementing it, I’m looking for ways to make it better,” he said on Monday, June 13, 2016, during an interview with Channels Television. “Generally, the promise of this country keeps me awake. I…
Former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro has said that the invasion of his home by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is a sad throwback to a tyrannical past. EFCC agents raided Obanikoro’s home in Ikoyi on Tuesday, June 14, 2016. The ex-minister made his comments via a statement released on Wednesday, June 15. The statement reads: Good morning friends and Good morning to all Nigerians. The Invasion and Raid of my Residence yesterday by Agents of the State is a sad throwback to a Tyrannical Past that is Better Forgotten. In 16 years of Democracy, we…
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has said that Nigerians see nothing wrong with corruption. The remark was made by ICPC Chairman, Ekpo Nta while receiving students of Government Secondary School, Kubwa, Abuja on Tuesday, June 14, 2016, Punch reports. “You see one Nigerian stealing billions of naira and dollars that could have been used for education and the construction of bridges and the irony of it is that many Nigerians do not see anything bad in it. They justify it,” he said. “At times, they say it is one-sided; why are you not touching this…
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo presided over the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting for the second time today, June 15, 2016. Prof Osinbajo has been acting in President Muhammadu Buhari’s capacity since he embarked on his 10-day vacation to the United Kingdom. Last week, the Vice President led those present in prayers for three sick minister. Here are pictures from the event as provided by Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the president.
Following his recent turbulent week with his current label Baseline Records, Skales returned to Twitter to re-address the issue using the hashtag #NobodysBusiness. The ‘Shake Body’ singer has since made the hashtag into a single, and this time he’s featuring his former boss/mentor Banky W. This would be his first feature with Banky in the 2 years since exiting from his former label, EME. While the two have been posting each other up on social media, Banky has been busy giving us a glimpse of the video shoot for the single on Snapchat.
A possible collaboration might be in the works between pop star Wizkid and Nigerian-British rapper, Tinie Tempah as the pair have been pictured on set in the Dominican Republic. This is coming off the back of Wizzy’s appearance at Chris Brown’s ‘One Hell of A Nite tour’ where he performed his yet-to-be-released duet with the American singer titled ‘African Bad Girl’. Since 2015, Wizkid has been heavily affiliated with Tinie Tempah’s’ ‘Disturbing London’ imprint.